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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. ALDRICH.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 388,807. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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W. ALDRICH.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 388,807. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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(No Model.)

W. ALDRICH.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 388,807. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VALES ALDRICH, OF MIAMISBURG, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HOOVER & GAMBLE, OF SAME PLACE.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,807, dated September 4, 1888.

Serial No. 143,268. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VALEs ALDRICH, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Miamisburg, in the county of llfontgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lvfowingllfachines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of mowing machines known as front-cut mowers, and has for its object the general improvement in the construction of the machine, whereby simplicity, efficiency,

1 and strength are obtained.

The novelty consists in the construction and combination of the elements employed, all as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of my improved machine. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the pole or tongue, showing the application of the sliding double- 2;, tree. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 1, Sheet 3, is a detailed plan view, partly in section, ofthe tilting-bar. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is an enlarged detailed view, partly in section, of the inner shoe and the gag-le- 0 ver for raising and lowering the finger-bar. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is an enlarged detailed view, partly in section, showing the coupling of the yoke-extension to the main frame. Fig. 7, Sheet 3, is an enlarged detailed View of the 5 pitman-head. Fig.8, Sheet 3, is a correspond ing view in central section.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the usual or any suitable framework, in which is journaled the axle B, upon the outer ends of which the driving and supporting wheels C G are secured by the usual ratchetand-pawl connections.

I) is the pole or tongue, suitably secured to the main frame, as is also the drivers seat E. F is the usual or any suitable finger-bar, and G the knife, the former of which is secured to the customary inner shoe, H, and outer di vider-shoe, l. The usual driving-gear is contained in the box .T of the main frame and communicates motion to the knife G through the pitman K.

The inner wheel, 0, is of slightly greater diameter than the outer wheel, 0. The wheels act on the principle of the lever, the power being applied at theaxle and the ground upon which the wheels rest being the fulcrum. The lever of the inner wheel, 0, is longer than that of the outer wheel, 0. The power being ap plied near the center of the axle, the draft on each wheel is the same, and, the leverage of the inner wheel being the greater, it will be turned more easily than the outer one, and will have a tendency to move along the ground faster than the outer one. The cutting apparatus being on the side having the larger wheel, its resistance overcomes the tendency of this wheel to move its side of the machine faster than the other, and the larger wheel may be made of such size with reference to the smaller that its tendency to move its side of the machine faster than the latter moves its, exactly counterbalances the resistance of the cutting apparatus, and the machine will move forward in a straight line without any side draft.

The finger-bar is rigidly secured to the inner shoe, H, which shoe is hinged to the yoke L, as shown, so as to permit the finger-bar to follow the inequalities of theground and to be turned upon the yoke in transporting the machine from place to place when not in use, and said yoke has a rear socket-piece, a, in which, as seen in Fig. 4, is pivoted so as to have slight lateral play a rcarwardly extending 8 hrust bar, M, whose rear end, enlarged, as shown at b, fits into the open T-slottcd segment N, which is secured to the main frame, as shown, the purpose of this lateral play being to prevent the thrust-bar from binding in the slotted segment. The yoke is further sup ported by a coupling-bar, 0, whose outer end is connected by the swiveled joint shown in Fig. 6,whcre a spindle, a, extending from the bar 0, passes through a countersunk or taper ing aperture, 1), in the main frame A, and has slipped upon its rear end a hemispherical washer, 0, fitting into a concavity in the frame, the parts being united by the washer d and key a, as shown.

This construction unites the coupling-bar O to the forward extension of the main frame, as seen at c, in such manner as to permit the shoe and fingerbar to be tipped fore and aft, or raised bodily up or let down. The tipping of the finger-bar is accomplished by the hand lock-lever I, whose lower curved end is connected by a link, (I, to the bar M, as seen in Fig. 1. The fulcrum of lever P being in close proximity to bar M, the inclination of the finger-bar in both directions can be effected in a comparatively small sweep of the lever. To obtain a direct draft and the power of the team directly upon the cutting apparatus, I secure any suitable bracket or casting, R, to the pole or tongue, over which is fitted, so as to be free to slide, a second engaging-casting, S, to which the doubletree T is secured, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. From this casting S,which forms part of the sliding doubletree, a draft-bar, U, extends down and back, and is hooked at its rear end into either of the adjustment-holes c of an upwardly extending lug or arm, f, integral with the bar 0 and at a point close to the yoke L. It will be seen from this construction that the draft-power of the machine is eommunicated directly through the sliding doubletree to the cutting apparatus, and owing to the leverage on bar 0 afforded by lug f, the forward tipping of the cutting apparatus is materially assisted by the draft of the team.

V is the finger-bar-lifting hand lock-lever, pivoted to the side of the tongue and having at its lower end a grooved quadrant, W, to the upper end of which is hooked or fastened the top ofa chain, 9, which extends down and has its lower end connected to the rear end of a gag-lever, Y, pivoted at h to lugs i upon the yoke L, and with its front engaging end passing through a slot in the yoke and bearing upon the upturned end of a piece,j, bolted or otherwise secured to the finger-bar, as seen in Fig. 5.

In operation the first action of lever V is to raise the shoe bodily for a short distance, whereupon the gaglever comes into play and folds the finger-bar.

As k, Fig. 5, is the pivotal axis of the shoe II, it will be seen from this construction that I not only obtain apoweirful leverage to throw up the finger-bar, but at the same time do not have to move the hand-lever V but a comparatively short distance.

By reference to Figs. 7 and 8 the construction of my improved sclfoiling pitman-head will be shown. The wrist-pin upon the balance-wheel l has its end formed into a ball, so as to constitute with the end of the pitman a ball-andsocket joint, the socket of which is formed by the pitman-head, which in this instance is composed of the tubular portion in into which the end of the pitman K is screwed, and which at its opposite end is formed into a hemispheri cal chamber, a, communicating with the bore 0. A detachable piece, 1), with its inner side concave, is fitted between upper and lower extensions, r s, of the tube m, as shown, and is held in place by a bolt, 00, inserted through a lug, t, and a perforation in the end of a hinged piece, a, pivoted between ears of the extensions at 'v. A nut, 10, serves to unite the parts. In applying this pitman to the wrist-pin it is only necessary to remove the nut w, whereupon the piece a can be swung back to enable the two-part socket to be slipped over the head of the wrist-pin, when the parts are again brought into position and locked by the nut. An essential feature of this construction is the bore 0, which forms an oil-chamber, into which the oil is poured at the opening ;1 to fill the same, and which, communicating with the socket of thejoint, serves to effectually lubricate the same at every stroke of the pitman.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination, with the yoke having a rearwardly extending socket-piece, of a thrust-bar pivoted at one end in said socketpiece in such manner as to have lateral play, a T-slotted segment, with which the other end of the thrust-bar engages, a hand-lever, and a link connecting the thrust-bar and the lever, substantially as doscribed,and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, with the yoke L, coupling-bar O hinged at one end to the yoke and swiveled at its other end to the forward extension of the mainframe, and the lugf, projecting from the eouplingbar near the yoke, of the sliding doublctree T and draft-link U, substantially as described, and for the purpose stated.

3. The pitman-head composed of the tubular portion at, detachable piece 1), hinged locking-plate u, and belt a, the parts constructed and applied in the manner and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination, with the coupling-livar O and the main frame perforated and recessed to receive it, of the spindle a, hemispherical washer c, fitting and playing in a corresponding recess in the main frame, washer (7/, and key 0, substantially as described.

\VALES ALDRICH.

Witnesses:

S. II. HAYnn, LEWIS lI. Znnmxo. 

